C’wealth meeting: Spotlight on Queen’s successor

The Queen has endorsed Prince Charles to take over her role as head of the Commonwealth

Reports say Commonwealth leaders will meet behind closed doors later to discuss whether the Prince of Wales should succeed his mother as head of the 53-nation body.

On Thursday, the Queen endorsed Prince Charles as future leader at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) at Buckingham Palace.

She said it was her “sincere wish” that he takes over “one day”.

But the role is not hereditary and will not pass automatically to the Prince of Wales on the Queen’s death.

The leaders are expected to approve the move when they meet at Windsor Castle, but there has been no confirmation on whether there will be an announcement following the meeting.

Media reports say there had been some suggestions that the position should be rotated around member states.

Opening the summit on Thursday, the Queen said: “It is my sincere wish that the Commonwealth will continue to offer stability and continuity for future generations, and will decide that one day the Prince of Wales should carry on the important work started by my father in 1949.”

The body’s outgoing chair-in-office, Maltese prime minister Joseph Muscat, told delegates: “We are certain that, when he will be called upon to do so, he will provide solid and passionate leadership for our Commonwealth.”

Prime Minister Theresa May and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau have given their backing to Prince Charles.